ISLAMABAD, Nov 29: After blocking the way of Nato vehicles in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa through its demonstrations for one week, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) is now anxiously waiting for a response from the federal government to a letter written by KPK Chief Minister Pervez Khattak to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

While the blockade of Nato supplies through Peshawar’s link road has been continued by PTI workers since Nov 23, the chief minister on Tuesday sent the letter to the prime minister asking him to convene an all-party conference to discuss the situation after the drone attack in Hangu.

A senior PTI leader confided to Dawn that his party was willing to call off its protests against Nato supplies provided the federal government came up with some sort of assurance against drone strikes.

He said an announcement by the federal government setting a deadline for the US government to halt drone strikes in Pakistan and linking it with the continuation of Nato supplies might persuade the PTI to end its protests.

Another option for the federal government, the PTI leader suggested, was to come up with an assurance that it would take the issue to the International Court of Justice.

In reply to a question that how long PTI workers can continue the blockage of Nato supplies through their protests, the PTI leader said: “Yes, continuing such protests for a long time is not possible. The federal government and the PTI leadership will have to find a solution of the problem on the basis of give and take.”

Another source close to PTI leaders said that the party’s only intention behind blocking the way of Nato containers was to register its protest against drone attacks.

He said after blocking the way of Nato supplies for a whole week, the PTI leaders realised that the protests should end now. But, he added, “they need a face-saving move”.

However, PTI information secretary Dr Shireen Mazari told Dawn that the party was fully committed to continuing the campaign until the federal government or the Americans gave assurance against drone attacks.

Ms Mazari claimed that the PTI had achieved its objective of blocking the Nato supply line to Afghanistan.

About the chances of end to PTI protests, she said it largely depended on how the government responded to the letter written by the Khyber Pakhtunwa chief minister to the prime minister.

Dr Mazari said: “The PTI is convinced that the PML-N has come to power after massively rigging the general elections.”

In his letter, Mr Khattak has requested the prime minister to either hold a meeting with all chief ministers or call an APC to take a united stand against drone attacks.

Federal Information Minister Senator Pervez Rashid said that a reply to Mr Khattak’s letter would be given after consultations.

He told Dawn that the stance of the federal government was “clear from day one”.